Easy Dan Dan Noodles

Dan dan noodles in a blue bowl with chopsticks on a wooden beaded placemat.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Dan Dan Noodles

Got a dinner party? Reimagine build-your-own-bowl night with these comforting and spicy Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles! Layer up your mountain of noodles & indulge in noodle therapy with friends your next hangout because homies that slurp noodz together, stay together.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Servings: servings

Calories: 464kcal

Author: Mikha S.

Ingredients

SAUCE:

3 tablespoons sesame paste
2-3 tablespoons chili oil adjust to your spice level
2 tablespoon soy sauce
½ tablespoon chicken bouillon
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons Chinese black vinegar or white vinegar
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon toasted ground Szechuan peppers
¾ teaspoon five spice
3 garlic cloves minced
1 cup cooking water from noodles 1/4 cup water in each serving bowl

FOR THE MEAT:

½ pound ground pork or ground chicken, beef, or crumbled extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
4 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1/4 cup sui mi ya cai Chinese preserved mustard greens, (can omit if you can’t find it)

NOODLES & VEGGIES:

15.5 oz of thin wheat noodles can sub with spaghetti noodles
8 oz baby bok choy cut in half lengthwise, can sub. other leafy green

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, make the sauce by whisking together sesame paste, chili oil, soy sauce, chicken bouillon, sugar, black vinegar, dark soy sauce, ground szechuan peppercorn, five spice, & garlic. Mix until smooth then set aside.
Heat a large pan or skillet on medium-high heat with a little oil. Add ground meat & spread evenly into the pan. Cook for a few minutes until cooked through & browned, breaking up any big chunks.
Add Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, & dark soy sauce to the meat & cook for a few more minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.
Toss in sui mi ya cai (if using) and cook for an additional 1 - 2 minutes. Remove meat mixture from heat & set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add in noodles and follow the package's instructions to cook. Remove noodles and keep the pot boiling. Add the bok choy and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the greens are tender but still crunchy. Remove bok choy, turn off heat, & reserve the boiling water.

Begin assembling your Dan Dan bowls:

In each serving bowl, add about 2 - 2 ½ tablespoons of the sesame sauce & ¼ cup of the boiling water. Stir until smooth.
Divide noodles, meat, & bok choy into each serving bowl.
Garnish green onions & sesame seeds, if you’re feeling fancy. Mix together before enjoying!

Video

Notes

Protein: Can substitute meat with your favorite protein: ground chicken, turkey, beef, or crumbled extra-firm tofu
Light / Regular vs Dark Soy Sauce: Both types of soy sauces bring different elements to the dish. Light or regular soy sauce adds saltiness and can be easily accessible at grocery stores. Dark soy sauce adds a deep rich color and can be found at local Asian markets or Amazon. If you can't find dark soy sauce, keep in mind that your Dan Dan Noodles will come out lighter in color.
Shaoxing Wine: This is a Chinese cooking wine and can be found at local Asian markets or Amazon.
Sui mi ya cai: This is a Chinese preserved mustard green and is a traditional ingredient for Dan Dan Noodles. It can sometimes be difficult to find even in Asian markets, but you can find it on Amazon. Alternatively, you can substitute with pickled mustard greens, kimchi, or omit it.
Noodles: You can easily find fresh noodles at local Asian markets in the refrigerated section. I highly recommend using them if you're tight on time because they only take a few minutes to cook. Alternatively, you can use spaghetti noodles!
If noodles get stuck together while preparing the rest of the ingredients, you can splash a little water on them to loosen them up before adding in the rest of the ingredients.

Nutrition